Thicker Than Blood (Thicker Than Blood #1)(65)

Bethany’s instant disappointment was palpable. Miffed, she gave both Evelyn and me a scathing glance, speaking volumes as to how she felt. Who were we? What was so special about us that a man like Alex would claim us and not her?

I found myself feeling sorry for her, my anger doused nearly as soon as it had flamed. Instead, I was saddened by her circumstances, and though this woman wouldn’t want my pity, I felt it for her regardless. Take Alex out of this equation, and Evelyn and I could both be in her shoes, desperate for any sense of security and ready to do anything it took to obtain it.

“Whatever,” she muttered, then turned away, leaving us all with an up close and personal view of her backside. “We’re here anyway.” She flipped her hand carelessly toward a door on the right. Like the others, it was also fitted with a large and formidable-looking padlock. A key appeared in her hand—Where had she been hiding that?—and then, without turning to look at him, offered it to Alex.

“I’ll be back for you tonight,” she said flippantly in my direction. “Make sure you shower before work. The bathhouse is on the first floor.”

With another flip of her hair over her shoulder, Bethany pushed between Evelyn and me, her shoulder purposefully colliding with Evelyn’s. And then she was off, down the hallway and eventually out of sight.

While Alex fumbled with the padlock, Evelyn and I exchanged uneasy glances.

I’m worried about you, her eyes told me.

I was worried about me too, but instead of conveying that, I glanced away, my gaze landing on the two children still playing in the hallway. There wasn’t much I was grateful for in this new world, only Evelyn and now Alex, yet I found myself suddenly grateful that I’d never been able to conceive a child. Not with Thomas and not with Lawrence.

This world wasn’t for children, it wasn’t conducive to growing and learning, and it definitely didn’t perpetuate morals. These two children would know nothing but violence and death, and I counted myself grateful that I would never be laden with the guilt of bringing life into an already dead world.

“Home sweet home,” Alex muttered as he pushed open the door. A moldy smell wafted out into the hall, intermixed with cleaning solution. One by one we entered, taking in our new residence. It was a small room, no bigger than a bedroom. Off to the right, a stained mattress had been dropped haphazardly onto the floor, and to the left was a battered old armchair, threadbare and missing half an arm. A shoddy countertop lined the wall beneath a row of windows, all of them cracked and covered in duct tape.

But the walls were another story. Hanging over the poor paint job, a sickly green color, were several familiar art prints. The Mona Lisa, Starry Night, and The Scream all hung side by side, an odd sort of mix.

I stared at The Scream, thinking how fitting it was. The thought also occurred to me that, much like children, art seemed to have little place in this world.





Chapter Twenty-Six



Evelyn

“What now?” Leisel was perched on the edge of the broken armchair, looking from Alex to me and back again. Her eyes pleaded with me to give her something of substance to latch onto inside this strange place, but all I could do was shrug.

We’d only been in this place for a couple of hours, and already I was edgy and ill at ease with everything. It would be nightfall soon, and the thought of being somewhere behind walls, fences, barriers…whatever you wanted to call them, made me uncomfortable. I was supposed to feel safe now, yet I felt anything but.

Alex had been silent for hours now, ever since Leisel had insisted that she was going to dance. Clearly, he hated the idea, loathed it, and I could almost taste his anger at the idea of other men looking at her. Refusing to even take a seat, he’d been standing in front of a window, looking out through the broken glass at the world below since we entered our room.

Jerking my head in Alex’s direction, I gave Leisel a pointed look, silently conveying to her to get her ass up and go to him. Mouthing the word no, she shook her head, and in return I glared at her, again jerking my head. Reluctantly, she finally stood and walked slowly across the room before reaching him. Tentatively, she reached out, gently placing her hand on his back, only to have him flinch away from her. Closing her eyes, Leisel took a deep, shuddering breath, before opening them and trying again. This time, Alex remained still, allowing her to touch him, and eventually she began gently rubbing his back and he began to visibly relax.

Biting down on her lower lip, she looked at me with an expression on her face that clearly said, What do I do now? Smiling softly, I simply shook my head and turned to leave. There was only one thing I knew to do to win a man over. Use your body.

“Where are you going?” Alex said sharply, making me jump from the sudden sound.

I froze in place, my hand barely touching the doorknob. Glancing over my shoulder, I found him glaring at me, his deep-rooted scowl still in place.

“It’s dangerous out there,” he growled, his frown and fury all melding into one menacing expression.

“You don’t actually have a claim on me,” I told him, my tone matter-of-fact. “So if it’s all right with you, I’m going to check this place out. Besides, I need to find us some food.” Glancing down at myself, I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe even some clothes that fit. And I definitely need a bath, and I don’t need a chaperone, not with your initials forever branded into my skin.” My last words were said with the intonation of bitterness I was feeling. Lifting my arm, I flashed Alex his initials that were now forever marked on my wrist.